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Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 82 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 46,104 on turnover of 10.5-billion N-T. MOFA warns on Uganda travel The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Ugandan immigration officers have withheld the passports of three Taiwan travelers and demanded that they produce Chinese passports, citing the country's "One China principle." According to the minister, three encountered the officers on arriving at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday. They were eventually allowed to enter Uganda. However, the foreign ministry says immigration officers refused to return their Taiwan passports unless they produced passports issued by China in which entry stamps could be placed. Taiwan's representative office in Somaliland, which is responsible for affairs involving Uganda, and the Taiwanese business association in the country immediately provided assistance to the travelers. The foreign ministry is advising Taiwan nationals to carefully assess (評估) the necessity and potential risks of traveling to Uganda and to postpone planned visits for the time being. NKorea Threatens SelfDefense Amid US SKorean Drills North Korea has threatened to exercise its right to self-defense in a statement that slammed the upcoming U.S.-South Korean military drills as a war rehearsal. In a statement carried by state media Friday, North Korea's Foreign Ministry called the U.S.-South Korean training “a rehearsal for an aggressive war” that is triggering a different level of instability in the region. North Korea also said the drills would be of a “more serious provocative (挑釁的) nature and dangerousness than last year" and involve all the military assets and war-fighting modes of the U.S. and South Korea. The U.S. and South Korea have described the training's scope this year as similar to past years. They say the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are meant to strengthen their alliance's capability and reiterate that the drills are defensive in nature. US CARRIER ROTATION AIMS TO SUSTAIN IRAN BLOCKADE 'INDEFINITELY' AS NAVY READINESS STRETCHED THIN US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims the American military can maintain its naval blockade on Iran indefinitely by rotating aircraft carriers in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. The carrier currently enforcing the blockade has been at sea for a record two hundred consecutive days, prompting growing concern among lawmakers in Washington about crew welfare. A replacement vessel is now on its way from the Pacific to relieve it — a move Washington hopes will undermine (破壞) any Iranian assumption that the deployment is unsustainable. James Gooderson, our reporter in Washington, says the carrier rotation is exposing the strain the war in Iran is placing on the US Navy's global posture, with the departure of a vessel from the Pacific leaving China with greater freedom to project power in the region. Vietnam Seizes Ivory Illegally Shipped from Africa Vietnamese authorities have seized a large shipment of ivory illegally shipped from Africa. The haul includes 221 pieces of elephant ivory weighing over 1,193 kilograms. It was displayed to the media on Wednesday in Gia Lai province. Vietnam is a major hub for the illicit wildlife trade, with much of the contraband transshipped (轉船 / 換船) to China. Inspections last week found the ivory hidden in sawn timber in a shipment from the Republic of the Congo. The illegal cargo also contained animal bones often used in traditional medicine. A criminal investigation has been launched. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The UAE has strongly condemned a hostile Iranian attack on two Adnoc-linked ships as they crossed the Strait of Hormuz. The Foreign Ministry called it a flagrant violation of a UN Security Council resolution protecting freedom of navigation. US Central Command has denied reports from mostly Iranian media outlets that seven Navy personnel died aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. It comes after unconfirmed accusations of poor conditions on the carrier, which has been deployed in the Middle East since January. The UN envoy to Yemen has warned the country faces its greatest risk of a return to large-scale war since a 2022 truce. His statement comes as the Houthis escalate attacks in the Red Sea. Sudan's Rapid Support Forces say they have captured the town of Al Kurmuk in Blue Nile state near the borders with Ethiopia and South Sudan. It's the second town they have seized in the region this week. The UAE is providing $10 million in aid to Colombia after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed at least 265 people. It's being allocated under the directive of President Sheikh Mohamed as part of the country's commitment to strengthen international relief efforts. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

【図解】サウジアラビア・オマーン茂木敏充外相は１７～２２日の日程で中東のサウジアラビアとオマーンを訪問する。 Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will visit Saudi Arabia and Oman from Monday through Aug. 22 for talks with local officials on normal maritime navigation and infrastructure reconstruction in the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will visit Saudi Arabia and Oman from Monday through Aug. 22 for talks with local officials on normal maritime navigation and infrastructure reconstruction in the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it continues to activate direct and indirect diplomatic channels between the US and Iran and that they are working to bring both sides to the negotiating table in Islamabad.US equity futures gain, with outperformance in NQ futures following stellar SMCI and CRWV earnings.DXY muted; low-yielding funders modestly weaker as JPY shorts are relocated.Fixed income benchmarks slightly firmer on light volume ahead of the key US CPI report.Crude choppy amid a lack of tangible US-Iran updates.Looking ahead, highlights include US CPI (Jul), OPEC MOMR, and supply from the US.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

For review:1. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the administration of President Donald Trump is escalating economic pressure on Cuba with an unprecedented sanctions campaign and warned that "there are no escape valves."2. Yemen's Houthis said they attacked an oil facility Sunday in southwestern Saudi Arabia, the latest attack by the Iranian-backed rebels on the kingdom.3. Nickolay Mladenov, the Gaza envoy of the US-backed Board of Peace, sought to dispel skepticism in Israel about the board's roadmap for the disarmament of Hamas in the Strip, arguing that the plan's full implementation is Israel's only “guarantee” of preventing a repeat of the October 7, 2023, massacre, and that it will be based on verifiable steps, rather than trust of the terror group.4. Iran on Monday said that it has no reason to be concerned about the new security pact between Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, arguing that it is “a sign of a change in the perception” of countries in the region toward the United States, and not a threat to Iran.5. US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Washington was “low-keying” its approach to Iran and only “semi-negotiating” with the Islamic Republic, as it suffers in dire economic straits.6. Russia's Foreign Ministry has denied that Russian and German officials held talks in Azerbaijan last month to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.“There have been no official contacts with Germany regarding a settlement in Ukraine, nor are there any now.” 7. The US Defense Department has requested that American defense companies quickly boost their production and delivery of weapons amid an acute shortage of arms due to the Iran war, according to a memo reported on by the WP on Saturday.8. The Army has officially opened up four of its domestic testing ranges and one international range where private industry can blast off interceptor missiles they have developed with their own funds, in hopes of getting promising candidates into the acquisition pipeline faster.

Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza plan, says no IDF withdrawal before genuine Hamas disarmament. Iran says Tehran, Washington are not engaged in talks. Foreign Ministry advises Israelis in Greece to keep low profile ahead of expected pro-Palestinian demonstrationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's accelerating remilitarization has become a serious factor threatening regional peace and stability, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, urging the international community to stay on high alert and push back against the trend.外交部于周三表态，日本不断加快再军事化进程已然成为威胁地区和平稳定的重大隐患，呼吁国际社会保持高度警惕，抵制这一不良动向。Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the remarks in response to the Defense of Japan 2026 white paper, which continues to trumpet the development of longrange offensive capabilities and new ways of warfare while even packaging Japan's rearmament as a growth driver.外交部发言人林健针对日本2026年版《防卫白皮书》作出以上回应。该白皮书依旧大肆鼓吹发展远程进攻战力与新型作战模式，甚至将日本重整军备包装成经济增长动力。All these moves once again expose the truth behind Japan's claim of being a "peaceful nation", Lin said in a statement released on the ministry's official website.外交部官网刊发的声明当中，林健讲到，以上种种举动再次揭开日本所谓“和平国家”说辞之下的真面目。The white paper identifies China as Japan's "greatest strategic challenge" and presents defense investment as beneficial to the country's economy and society.这份白皮书将中国定性为日本“最大战略挑战”，还宣称防卫投入能够为本国经济与社会带来益处。Citing what it describes as intensifying activities by the Chinese military in the region surrounding Japan, the document calls for a response drawing on Japan's comprehensive national power and cooperation with its ally, likeminded countries and others.白皮书捏造中国军方在日本周边活动愈发频繁的说辞，声称要调动日本综合国力，并联合盟友、理念相近国家以及其余各方作出应对。China deplores and firmly rejects the white paper and has lodged serious representations with Japan, Lin said.林健表示，中方强烈谴责并且坚决反对该白皮书，已经向日方提出严正交涉。Taiwan's status reaffirmed重申台湾的地位The spokesman said that the document once again targets China with groundless accusations, rehashes the socalled "China threat" and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs with brazen comments on China's Taiwan region.该发言人表明，白皮书再度无端指责中国、翻炒“中国威胁论”，还针对中国台湾地区发表放肆言论，粗暴干涉我国内政。China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and its military activities are just and valid, Lin said.林健称，中国坚持走和平发展道路，奉行防御性国防政策，我方一切军事行动正当合法。"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves, and Japan is in no place to interfere," he said.他指出：“台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分，台湾问题纯属中国内政。该问题如何解决由中国人自己决定，日方无权插手。”The Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands have been China's territory since ancient times, and this fact will never change no matter what the Japanese side says or does, he added.他补充说明，钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿自古以来便是中国领土，无论日方如何言行，这一事实永远不会动摇。Noting that Japanese militarists once inflicted immense suffering on Asia and the world and committed untold crimes, Lin emphasized that Japan has not only failed to reflect on that history, but has also kept speeding up remilitarization, breaching its own Constitution and international and domestic laws and challenging the postwar international order.林健谈及昔日日本军国主义带给亚洲乃至全世界深重苦难、犯下罄竹难书的罪行；他着重强调，日本非但没有反省历史，反而持续加速再军事化，违背本国宪法、国内外法规，挑衅战后国际秩序。"We urge Japan to deeply repent for its historical crimes, learn the lessons of history, stop cooking up justifications for its military buildup and step back from the wrong path," Lin said.林健说道：“我方敦促日本深刻忏悔历史罪责、吸取历史教训，不要再为扩充军力编造借口，及时从错误道路上抽身。”In recent years, Japan has accelerated its military buildup by increasing defense spending, acquiring longrange missiles and strengthening joint operations. In April, it revised its arms export rules to allow, in principle, the export of lethal weapons, while senior Japanese officials have also left open the possibility of reviewing the country's Three NonNuclear Principles.近些年来，日本通过抬高防卫预算、购置远程导弹、强化联合作战加快军备扩张。今年四月日本修改武器出口规章，原则上准许出口杀伤性武器；日本高层官员也放出风声，有可能重新研讨无核三原则。The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said that these moves go beyond Japan's postwar exclusively defenseoriented policy and jeopardize regional peace and stability.外交部多次表态，这类举动已经逾越日本战后专守防卫政策的边界，会危及地区和平与安定。deplore /dɪˈplɔː(r)/强烈谴责；悲叹remilitarization /ˌriːmɪlɪtəraɪˈzeɪʃn/再军事化trumpet /ˈtrʌmpɪt/大肆宣扬，鼓吹inalienable /ɪnˈeɪliənəbl/不可分割的、不可剥夺的inflict /ɪnˈflɪkt/造成（伤害、苦难）jeopardize /ˈdʒepədaɪz/危及，损害

For review:1. US President Donald Trump held a phone call earlier today with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during which the pair discussed “efforts to deescalate tensions between the US and Iran,” the latter's office says.2. Iran and the Gulf Arab state of Oman have made progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a potential breakthrough that could help wind down the war in the Middle East, regional officials say.Under the emerging agreement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, with service fees charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, two regional officials tell The Associated Press.3. In his first public comments on the matter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel has not agreed to the Board of Peace's Hamas disarmament plan, which was accepted by the terror group last week.4. The US-backed Board of Peace appeared to change its conditions for the IDF to withdraw from Gaza after its top officials held a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, shortly before a fresh Israeli airstrike was reported in the enclave.5. Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's former ambassador to the U.S., has been charged with illicit enrichment, an anti-corruption prosecutor said at a hearing of the High Anti-Corruption Court on Aug. 5.6. Ukraine will never become a member of NATO despite years of pursuing accession, Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.K. and former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said on Aug. 3.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Zaluzhnyi's remarks had been "taken out of context and caused a stir," noting that the ambassador's full answer referred primarily to the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), not NATO.

Trump just called off a massive weekend attack on Iran after Gulf allies begged him to stand down, saying a deal was imminent. Now Iran is out here claiming no talks are even planned. President Trump told reporters the strike was ready to go, but Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and even Iran itself asked him to pull back because they thought a deal covering the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear program was close. He said negotiations were set to begin Monday afternoon. Hours later, Iran's Foreign Ministry flat-out denied it — no talks scheduled, no negotiators moving, nothing. Iran's foreign minister is conveniently on a pilgrimage and unavailable. Classic. This is the same regime that has been choking global energy markets and racing toward a bomb. Trump is keeping the military option hot while testing whether Iran is serious or just playing the same old game. Regular Americans watching oil prices, Israel's security, and another endless Middle East mess need to understand what is actually happening here. Pat also covered: "Spider-Man" crushes record — is the “superhero fatigue” narrative finally dead? Day 51: Mitch McConnell is still MIA … and no one in D.C. seems to care. James Talarico's comments on policing in America will have you shaking your head. Marco Rubio looked very presidential sitting down with Lara Trump. The Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case was botched from the very beginning. Do you believe Iran is serious about a deal this time, or is this just more stalling? What's your take — should Trump have kept the strike on the table no matter what the Gulf states said? If you want unfiltered truth and common-sense analysis that cuts through the noise, hit subscribe and turn on notifications. 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:29 Another Iran Strike CALLED OFF!!! 03:44 New Pat Gray BINGO! Sheet 09:17 Bill Maher on Anthony Fauci's Lies 12:34 RFK Jr. on Gain-of-Function Situation 14:15 FLASHBACK: Anthony Fauci on his Influence Back in 2022 16:27 FLASHBACK: Anthony Fauci on Testifying to Congress in 2022 18:08 Dr. David Martin on Anthony Fauci's Crimes 22:34 Deborah Birx Tries to Change History 24:22 RFK Jr. on Measles Experts 31:24 Fat Five 46:07 National Anthem at Women's Pro Baseball League 48:14 Mitch McConnell is Still MIA 51:43 R.I.P. Kay Granger 52:26 Where's Maxine Waters? 52:42 Martha Reeves' Hair & Singing Voice 53:42 James Talarico on Scriptures & Health Insurance 57:11 James Talarico Talks with Black Resident about the Middle East 1:02:39 Ken Paxton's Paltry Public Appearances 1:03:01 Does James Talarico Have the Majority of Black Voters? 1:06:01 Iranian Government Continues to Do the Same ol' Thing 1:07:27 Marco Rubio on Trump VS. Iran 1:09:21 Marco Rubio on the "Couch Picture" 1:12:19 Nancy Guthrie Case Botched since DAY ONE!!! 1:13:20 Marco Rubio on Venezuela 1:15:37 Marco Rubio on Cuba 1:17:14 Marco Rubio on the Future of the U.S.A. 1:18:17 Marco Rubio if He had One Week Off 1:18:59 Football Talk 1:19:46 Weather Talk 1:23:17 Ketanji Brown Jackson on SCOTUS Public Engagements 1:28:30 Kamala Harris on Deaths due to Lack of USAID 1:30:15 Elon Musk on Supposed Deaths due to Lack of USAID 1:35:08 Illegal Invasion: Spain 2026 VS. U.S.A. 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada's WestJet and the union representing its flight attendants have reached a tentative deal. In British Columbia, 130 wildfires are burning across the province. Just south of B-C, a state of emergency has been declared across Washington state due to wildfires. Central and southern Europe are in the midst of another day of extreme heat and in Greece, that's led to the rapid spread of wildfires. A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry says they are not currently in talks with the US. Quebec Health agency Info Sante shown to have increasing call wait times. A group of Spanish scientists say they found sugar at the heart of the Milky Way.

US President Trump announced over the weekend that he cancelled strikes on Iran at the request of Tehran and other Middle East countries, subject to making a rapid deal (Brent -4.7%).Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said negotiations with Oman are progressing, with the two sides holding constructive talks on a new framework and exchanging maps over the past seven to eight days for review.Japan's Finance Ministry said it conducted coordinated yen-buying intervention with the US on Friday and won't hesitate to conduct further forex intervention with the US (USD/JPY -0.3%).US equity futures gain given the slump in energy prices; BMY (+7% pre-market) benefits on an FT report of a potential AZN merger.DXY unchanged, JPY outperforms while EUR little changed following downside revisions to manufacturing PMIs.Looking ahead, highlights include US S&P Manufacturing PMI Final (Jul), ISM Manufacturing PMI (Jul), Atlanta Fed GDP (Q3), and US Treasury Financing Estimates. Earnings from Palantir and ONSemi.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

The US sanctioned 10 Chinese shipping companies on Wednesday that it claimed were transporting Iranian oil.美国周三制裁了10家中国航运公司，美方称这些公司一直在运输伊朗石油。The US State Department claimed that the companies, based in Hong Kong and the mainland, plus eight tankers, were operating against US sanctions on Iranian oil exports.美国国务院声称，这些注册地位于中国香港和内地的企业，外加八艘油轮，其运营行为违反了美国针对伊朗石油出口实施的制裁规定。The move effectively freezes the companies' assets in the US, and would prohibit US companies and individuals from doing business with them.这一举措实质上会冻结这些企业在美国的资产，并且禁止美国企业和个人与它们开展业务往来。The Foreign Ministry of China has consistently opposed illegal unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" that lack a basis in international law and urged the US to halt such wrongful practices.中国外交部一贯反对没有国际法依据的非法单边制裁和“长臂管辖”，并敦促美方停止此类错误做法。"One day, the word of the day is 'ban'. The next day, the word of the day is 'block'. In effect, they mean the same: The US seems drunk with enthusiasm in its zeal to use such unilateral measures. Yet the more the White House keeps delivering the same message, the less interest people have," Anthony Moretti, an associate professor in the Communication and Organizational Leadership Department at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania, told China Daily.宾夕法尼亚州罗伯特·莫里斯大学传播与组织领导力系副教授安东尼·莫雷蒂在接受《中国日报》采访时表示：“今天美方挂在嘴边的词是‘禁令'，第二天又换成‘封锁'，二者本质含义并无差别。美国近乎狂热地痴迷于动用这类单边措施。然而白宫越是反复宣扬这套说辞，外界就越感到倦怠。”"In effect, these bans and blocks offer the administration a sense of toughness, but that image is not what one international country after another thinks of the US right now. There appears to be no strategy to truly deal with these issues," Moretti said.莫雷蒂称：“事实上，各类禁令与封锁政策只会让本届政府自我标榜态度强硬，但如今世界各国眼中的美国早已不是这般模样。美方并未拿出能够真正解决相关问题的可行方案。”Two Iranian insurance companies — Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company and Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority — were also sanctioned after being accused of forcing commercial vessels to purchase maritime insurance if they want safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.两家伊朗保险公司也遭到制裁：波斯湾海上保险公司、霍尔木兹安全海事服务管理局。美方指控两家机构逼迫商船购买其海事保险，船只方可安全驶过霍尔木兹海峡。About 20 percent of the world's oil was transported through the Strait of Hormuz before hostilities between the US and Iran began on Feb 28. That has now slowed to a mere trickle.2月28日美伊敌对冲突爆发前，全球约20%的石油经由霍尔木兹海峡运送；如今这条航道的石油运输量已变得微乎其微。More than 100 tankers have now been sanctioned by the Trump administration for allegedly trying to break the US blockade on Iranian ports, a move designed to hurt Iran's economy.特朗普政府迄今已制裁逾百艘油轮，缘由是这些油轮涉嫌冲破美国对伊朗港口的封锁，美方此举旨在重创伊朗经济。unilateral /ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl/单边的，单方面的jurisdiction /ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃn/管辖权zeal /ziːl/狂热，热忱maritime /ˈmærɪtaɪm/海事的，海运的hostilities /hɒˈstɪlətiz/敌对行动，战事allegedly /əˈledʒɪdli/据称，涉嫌

Iran warns sustained naval pressure risks wider war as Oman advances strait plan伊朗警告：持续海上施压或将引发更大规模战争，阿曼推进海峡管控方案US President Donald Trump said on Monday that "very friendly negotiations" with Iran were underway and touted the US Navy's "good blockade", even as Tehran warned that a continuous naval blockade would amount to an expansion of the war.美国总统唐纳德·特朗普周一称，美国正与伊朗进行“十分友好的谈判”，并夸赞美国海军实施的封锁举措成效良好；与此同时，德黑兰方面警告，持续海上封锁行为等同于扩大战事。Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters accused the US on Monday of threatening Iranian vessels, commercial ships and tankers in Iran's coastal and territorial waters over the past three days as part of an "illegal naval blockade".伊朗哈塔姆安比亚中央总部周一指责美国近三日在伊朗沿岸及领海水域，威胁伊朗船只、民用商船与油轮，实施非法海上封锁。"We warn that this American action is considered an expansion of war in the region," it said in a statement, adding that Iran's armed forces would respond to any threat posed by the US military.该机构在声明中表示：“我们警告，美方此举属于在中东地区扩大战争范畴”，并补充称伊朗武装部队将对美军带来的任何威胁予以回击。Trump also told US news outlet Axios that Washington was engaged in "very deep talks" with Tehran, but warned, "If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action."特朗普还向美国新闻网阿克西奥斯透露，华盛顿正与德黑兰展开深度磋商，但同时发出警告：“倘若谈判无果，美国将重启高强度军事行动。”Control of the Strait of Hormuz has remained a major point of contention since Iran and the US reached an interim memorandum of understanding last month, with tensions over the strategic waterway repeatedly fueling regional instability.自上月美伊达成临时谅解备忘录以来，霍尔木兹海峡的管控权一直是双方主要争端焦点，这条战略水道周边的紧张局势不断加剧，持续破坏地区稳定。Oman has proposed a joint regional mechanism for managing the strait with voluntary fees, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a Gulf source.路透社周二援引海湾地区消息人士消息称，阿曼提议建立区域性联合海峡管控机制，并推行自愿缴费制度。The proposal, which reportedly has regional backing, would prevent Iran from exercising sole control over the waterway. It is modeled on the Strait of Malacca, where users voluntarily contribute to navigation, environmental protection and search-and-rescue efforts.据悉该提案已获得多国支持，旨在杜绝伊朗独自掌控这条航道。方案参照马六甲海峡管理模式设计：航道使用方自愿出资，用于航道通航维护、生态保护以及海上搜救工作。Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held phone talks with his counterparts in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran to discuss ways to advance "practical, fair and sustainable understandings" on navigation and supply chain flows through the strait, Oman's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.阿曼外交部周一发布消息，阿曼外交大臣巴德尔同卡塔尔、科威特、沙特阿拉伯、埃及以及伊朗外长通电话，商议如何围绕海峡通航、供应链运输达成务实、公平且具备长效性的共识。The developments follow weekend talks between Iranian and Omani officials on navigation security, transit arrangements and sovereign rights, according to Tehran.伊朗方面表示，上述外交互动的背景是：上周末伊阿两国官员已就通航安全、过境安排以及国家主权事宜举行会谈。Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Washington for his eighth meeting with Trump since the US president began his second term, which is "more than any other international leader", according to Netanyahu's office.另一边，以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡正在出访华盛顿，这是特朗普开启第二任期以来二人第八次会面；以色列总理办公室称，会面频次远超其他各国领导人。"We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost, Iran," Netanyahu said before leaving for the US on Monday. "Naturally, our goal is to safeguard our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us."内塔尼亚胡周一启程赴美前表态：“我们将商讨所有议程议题，伊朗问题位列首位。我们的核心目标是保障以色列自身安全，同时不断扩大周边和平伙伴圈层。”Sujata Ashwarya, a professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, told China Daily that Netanyahu has little influence over when Washington launches attacks and is unlikely to use the meeting to press for it.新德里的贾米亚·米利亚伊斯兰教大学西亚研究中心教授苏雅塔·阿什瓦里亚接受《中国日报》采访时表示，内塔尼亚胡无法左右美国发动军事打击的时机，也难以借此次会晤敦促美方开战。"His purpose is to shape the terms of whatever settlement follows, which is where Israeli absence from the negotiations has cost most," Ashwarya said.阿什瓦里亚称：“内塔尼亚胡此行意在敲定后续任何和平协议的条款内容；以色列此前始终未能参与谈判，已经为此蒙受了诸多损失。”She explained that the interim US-Iran deal lacked any agreement on Israel's main sticking points: limits on Iran's ballistic missile program, preventing the rebuilding of its network of regional allies, and International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of nuclear sites.她解释道，美伊临时协议并未敲定以色列最为关切的几大分歧事项：限制伊朗弹道导弹研发计划、阻止伊朗重建地区盟友网络、允许国际原子能机构核查伊朗核设施。Ashwarya added that Netanyahu's departing remarks were "revealing".阿什瓦里亚补充说道，内塔尼亚胡临行前的一番话颇具深意，暴露了其真实诉求。A prime minister who measures a relationship in meetings cannot yet measure it in outcomes, she said.她表示：一位只能依靠会面次数来衡量双边关系的总理，尚且无法用实际成果印证两国情谊。"His stated goal also carries a second clause, expanding the circle of peace, and with Saudi normalization now attached to Washington's nuclear offer to Riyadh, that is where Israeli leverage actually sits," she said.“他宣称的目标包含两层含义，扩大和平圈层便是其二；当下沙特关系正常化事宜与美国向沙特提供核合作提议深度绑定，这恰恰是以色列手中最关键的筹码。”The two leaders want different things from the same war, she added. "Trump wants closure he can present as an achievement; Netanyahu wants Iranian recovery prevented, which is served by keeping options open."她最后指出，两位领导人对于这场冲突抱有截然不同的诉求：特朗普希望结束争端，并将停战包装成自身执政政绩；内塔尼亚胡则意图遏制伊朗国力复苏，而保留一切军事选项最有利于实现这一目的。tout /taʊt/大肆宣扬；吹捧；标榜contention /kənˈtenʃn/争端；争执；争论焦点interim /ˈɪntərɪm/临时的；过渡性的memorandum /ˌmeməˈrændəm/备忘录ballistic /bəˈlɪstɪk/弹道的leverage /ˈliːvərɪdʒ/影响力；筹码；优势

Michael Germi is a former Muslim born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he is a missionary with Baptist World Mission and now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations by satellite TV, satellite radio and internet radio. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. After 13 days of strikes, the United States has paused its military actions against Iran hoping for diplomacy to take place. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Walz said yesterday that the President was "giving talks some space, he's giving a little bit of room." A senior official in the Trump administration said that the President "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way." Today Iran says it is still in control of the Strait of Hormuz and is not seeking to resume peace talks with the United States. As a matter of fact, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei said Iran has not asked to resume peace talks with the United States. Last week wng.org reported that "Iran's Ministry of Intelligence recently classified several Persian-language Christian satellite TV broadcasters as hostile organizations." Such Christian broadcasters were being banned alongside other groups such as Voice of America, BBC Persian and Israeli outlets. "Iran

Michael Germi is a former Muslim born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he is a missionary with Baptist World Mission and now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations by satellite TV, satellite radio and internet radio. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. After 13 days of strikes, the United States has paused its military actions against Iran hoping for diplomacy to take place. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Walz said yesterday that the President was "giving talks some space, he's giving a little bit of room." A senior official in the Trump administration said that the President "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way." Today Iran says it is still in control of the Strait of Hormuz and is not seeking to resume peace talks with the United States. As a matter of fact, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei said Iran has not asked to resume peace talks with the United States. Last week wng.org reported that "Iran's Ministry of Intelligence recently classified several Persian-language Christian satellite TV broadcasters as hostile organizations." Such Christian broadcasters were being banned alongside other groups such as Voice of America, BBC Persian and Israeli outlets. "Iran

Michael Germi is a former Muslim born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he is a missionary with Baptist World Mission and now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations by satellite TV, satellite radio and internet radio. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. After 13 days of strikes, the United States has paused its military actions against Iran hoping for diplomacy to take place. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Walz said yesterday that the President was "giving talks some space, he's giving a little bit of room." A senior official in the Trump administration said that the President "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way." Today Iran says it is still in control of the Strait of Hormuz and is not seeking to resume peace talks with the United States. As a matter of fact, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei said Iran has not asked to resume peace talks with the United States. Last week wng.org reported that "Iran's Ministry of Intelligence recently classified several Persian-language Christian satellite TV broadcasters as hostile organizations." Such Christian broadcasters were being banned alongside other groups such as Voice of America, BBC Persian and Israeli outlets. "Iran

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, River City Hash Mondays is now available on the Spreaker Player! Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, the international Epstein investigation is catching up with Blanche, Trump and several major corporations.Then, on the rest of the menu, the guy who said the Continental Army “took over the airports” during the American Revolutionary War, now wants to put up warning signs about the Smithsonian's “fake history” exhibits; as Trump boosts nuclear power, the MAGA Nuclear Regulatory Commission seeks to eliminate a fifty year foundational radiation safety practice; and, a US appeals court upheld an injunction that blocks Trump's order to create a federal voter list. After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where Romania scrambled its F-16 jets on Sunday and downed the third Russian drone in three days; and, Brazil's Foreign Ministry denied visas to two US State Department officials who wanted to cast doubt on the South American nation's upcoming October elections. All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live PlayerKeep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365! “I was never a spy. I was with the OSS organization. We had a number of women, but we were all office help.” — Julia ChildBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/west-coast-cookbook-speakeasy--2802999/support.

Michael Germi is a former Muslim born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he is a missionary with Baptist World Mission and now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations by satellite TV, satellite radio and internet radio. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. After 13 days of strikes, the United States has paused its military actions against Iran hoping for diplomacy to take place. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Walz said yesterday that the President was "giving talks some space, he's giving a little bit of room." A senior official in the Trump administration said that the President "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way." Today Iran says it is still in control of the Strait of Hormuz and is not seeking to resume peace talks with the United States. As a matter of fact, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei said Iran has not asked to resume peace talks with the United States. Last week wng.org reported that "Iran's Ministry of Intelligence recently classified several Persian-language Christian satellite TV broadcasters as hostile organizations." Such Christian broadcasters were being banned alongside other groups such as Voice of America, BBC Persian and Israeli outlets. "Iran

Michael Germi is a former Muslim born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he is a missionary with Baptist World Mission and now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations by satellite TV, satellite radio and internet radio. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. After 13 days of strikes, the United States has paused its military actions against Iran hoping for diplomacy to take place. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Walz said yesterday that the President was "giving talks some space, he's giving a little bit of room." A senior official in the Trump administration said that the President "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way." Today Iran says it is still in control of the Strait of Hormuz and is not seeking to resume peace talks with the United States. As a matter of fact, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei said Iran has not asked to resume peace talks with the United States. Last week wng.org reported that "Iran's Ministry of Intelligence recently classified several Persian-language Christian satellite TV broadcasters as hostile organizations." Such Christian broadcasters were being banned alongside other groups such as Voice of America, BBC Persian and Israeli outlets. "Iran

Nearly 1,000 police officers continue a citywide search for a 21-year-old man suspected of ramming a vehicle into a crowd before launching a violent stabbing spree in Berlin. Iran's Foreign Ministry says Ukraine attacked an Iranian commercial vessel Saturday, in the Caspian Sea. Health workers treating a growing number of Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo are refusing to work. Typhoon Noul is battering the south eastern coast of China and parts of Hong Kong. The wildfires burning across British Columbia have prompted more evacuations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced three by-elections. that will be held on August 31st. Canadian politicians are divided on whether energy should be used as a bargaining chip, particularly in Quebec. Canada has won five medals at the 2026 Commonwealth games in Scotland.

Beijing summoned the ambassador of the Philippines to China on Tuesday and lodged solemn representations over Manila's deliberate provocation at Ren'ai Reef and attack on China Coast Guard law enforcement personnel on Monday.周二，中方紧急召见菲律宾驻华大使，就菲方周一在仁爱礁蓄意挑衅、袭击中国海警执法人员一事提出严正交涉。The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a statement, described the acts as egregious, noting that the Philippines initiated the provocation and then sought to shift the blame onto China, distorted the facts and maliciously hyped up the incident.外交部发表声明指出，菲方上述行为性质恶劣；菲方挑衅在先，事后却倒打一耙、歪曲事实，恶意炒作此次海上事件。The statement said China Coast Guard operations in waters near the reef were justified and lawful, and the country would take measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.声明强调，中国海警在仁爱礁附近海域开展执法活动合理合法，中方将采取一切必要措施，坚定捍卫自身领土主权与海洋权益。Addressing a regular news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stressed that Ren'ai Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands and is Chinese territory.外交部发言人林剑在例行记者会上强调，仁爱礁是中国南沙群岛的组成部分，主权属于中国。A Philippine military vessel has remained illegally grounded at Ren'ai Reef since May 9, 1999, despite Manila's repeated commitments to remove it.1999年5月9日以来，菲律宾一艘军舰在仁爱礁非法坐滩，尽管菲方多次承诺将该舰拖离，却始终未兑现承诺。Lin urged the Philippines to honor its commitments, immediately stop maritime provocations and false narratives, and exercise effective restraint over its frontline personnel.林剑敦促菲方恪守承诺，立即停止海上挑衅与虚假舆论造势，并有效约束一线人员言行。"Otherwise, the Philippines will bear all consequences arising from its actions," he added.他补充道：如若不然，菲方必须承担自身行径引发的一切后果。Lin said that in July 2024, China and the Philippines reached a provisional arrangement on humanitarian resupply missions to the grounded vessel based on China's three-point principled position, adding that China's position remains unchanged.林剑表示，2024年7月，中方基于三点原则立场，与菲方就坐滩军舰人道主义生活物资补给达成临时安排，中方这一立场至今未变。"If the Philippines were to attempt to build fixed facilities or permanent outpost, China will absolutely not accept it and will resolutely stop it in accordance with the law and regulations," Lin said.林剑称：倘若菲方试图在礁上修建固定设施、永久哨所，中方绝对不会接受，并将依法依规坚决予以制止。China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue said that on Tuesday morning, China allowed the Philippine side, on humanitarian grounds, to use a boat to transfer the injured sailor to Philippine Coast Guard vessel No 9702. The China Coast Guard contacted the Philippine vessel to verify the purpose of the operation and monitored the process throughout, Jiang said.中国海警局发言人姜略表示，周二上午，中方从人道主义角度出发，允许菲方船只将受伤水手转运至菲律宾9702号海警船。中方海警全程与菲方船只沟通核实行动目的，并全程监督转运全过程。With Foreign Minister Wang Yi set to attend the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila on Wednesday, Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said it is worth noting that whenever China and the Philippines prepare for dialogue or engagement, or whenever a major regional diplomatic event approaches, certain forces invariably seek to stir up trouble over maritime issues.王毅外长将于周三赴马尼拉出席中国—东盟外长会。外交部发言人林剑指出，一个值得警惕的现象是：每逢中菲即将开展对话交往、或是地区重大外交活动临近之际，总有某些势力刻意借海上问题制造事端。"As to where the facts and merits of the issue lie and who is pulling the strings behind the scenes, I believe it's plain for all to see. China's policy on neighborhood diplomacy remains consistent and unchanged," he said.他表示：事件孰是孰非、谁在幕后操纵，世人有目共睹。中方周边外交政策一以贯之，从未改变。Lin said East Asian cooperation platforms are not appropriate venues for discussing bilateral maritime disputes, calling on the Philippines to fulfill its responsibilities as ASEAN chair by promoting dialogue and cooperation rather than putting its own political interests above regional peace and stability.林剑表示，东亚合作相关平台并非讨论双边海上争端的合适场合；菲方作为东盟轮值主席国，应当履行自身责任，推动对话合作，而非将本国政治私利凌驾于地区和平稳定之上。He Xianqing, an associate researcher at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said that Manila was seeking international attention and sympathy from ASEAN countries by portraying China as a coercive bully on purpose. It also tried to give the illegal and invalid "2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea" greater practical effect and deterrent force — a development that warrants vigilance.中国南海研究院副研究员何贤清分析，菲律宾刻意将中国塑造成强势施压一方，以此博取国际社会与东盟国家的关注与同情；菲方还企图赋予2016年非法无效的南海仲裁案裁决更多实际效力与威慑力，这一动向值得高度警惕。Zhu Feng, a professor at Nanjing University's School of International Studies, said the Philippines had sought backing from the United States and Japan as it escalated tensions with China in the South China Sea for narrow domestic political purposes.南京大学国际关系学院朱锋教授表示，菲律宾出于狭隘国内政治考量，不断在南海制造紧张局势，同时寻求美日两国撑腰支持。provocation /ˌprɒvəˈkeɪʃn/ n.挑衅、滋事solemn representations严正交涉egregious /ɪˈɡriːdʒiəs/ adj.性质极其恶劣的、骇人听闻的provisional arrangement临时安排、暂行协议

Andrew, Ben, and Tom discuss the escalating Iran war with an Iranian strike killing two US service members and injuring others in Jordan, oil rising to the high $80s and gas moving back above $4 over the weekend, Strait of Hormuz traffic grinding to a standstill, potential renewed diplomatic outreach from Iran's Foreign Ministry, the 10-year holding at 4.56%, Domino's earnings shedding light on a stabilizing consumer with US-owned comps improving to +2.1%, and a preview of the packed earnings week including DHI, GEV, GOOG, TSLA, IBM, and Thursday's ECB decision.Join our live YouTube stream Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM EST:http://www.youtube.com/@TheMorningMarketBriefingPlease see disclosures:https://www.narwhal.com/disclosure

President Xi Jinping will set out China's policy positions, vision and proposals on artificial intelligence development and governance at one of the field's most influential international events, to be held in Shanghai this week.Xi will attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and deliver a keynote speech, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced on Monday.The four-day conference, themed "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future", will run from Friday to Monday.China has invited government officials from around the world, representatives of industry, universities and research institutions, as well as heads of international organizations, to attend the gathering, Lin told a regular news briefing in Beijing.Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will attend the conference during an official visit to China from Thursday to Monday, Lin said.Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will attend and address the opening ceremony, according to Cambodia's Foreign Ministry."AI technological innovation is undergoing broad-based breakthroughs and demonstrating unprecedented dynamism," Lin said.Such advances are bringing both opportunities and challenges to the international community, making AI governance "a profound topic of our times", he added.In recent years, China has worked to advance the four global initiatives and the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by Xi in the field of AI, Lin said.The country has remained committed to providing international public goods, advocating AI for good and for all with real actions, and helping Global South countries strengthen their AI capacity. These efforts have been widely recognized by the international community, he added."Through this conference, China looks forward to building a platform for all parties to enhance mutual trust, build consensus and deepen cooperation," said Lin.He added that China hopes the gathering will promote the sound, safe and orderly development of AI and become "a milestone in the history of AI development".Speaking at a news conference in Shanghai on July 7, Vice-Mayor Chen Jie said that this year's conference was expected to reach a record scale, attracting more than 1,100 companies, displaying over 3,000 exhibits and featuring more than 300 products making their global debut.For the first time, the exhibition area will exceed 100,000 square meters.The intelligent computing and embodied AI sections will each bring together more than 200 companies.Leading technology companies, major State-owned enterprises and top multinational corporations will exhibit alongside their ecosystem partners, showcasing the latest AI-powered applications across a wide range of industries.Shanghai has previously hosted the conference for eight consecutive years since its launch in 2018. Over the years, the event has developed into an important platform for showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies from China and abroad, as well as for deepening international cooperation.

The US and Iran exchanged strikes over the weekend, with the US military targeting 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday and took further action on Sunday, while Iran attacked US bases across the Gulf and closed the Strait of Hormuz.Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the US violated all clauses of the MoU in less than a month and stated that Iran will not execute commitments in the MoU as long as the US is not fulfilling its commitments. Furthermore, the spokesperson said mediators are still continuing their efforts to mediate between Iran and the US in recent days and Iran is in contact with mediators. Energy benchmarks pulled back following the constructive rhetoric, Brent +2.3%.US equity futures are off worst levels but the NQ is the clear underperformer, weighed down by the losses in SK Hynix (-15.4%).DXY reverse earlier gains; JPY hit on GPIF chatter, NZD continues to benefit on tightening bets.Looking ahead, highlights include OPEC MOMR (Jul), US Monthly Budget Statement (Jun), Coalition of the Willing Summit, Speakers including Fed's Waller, BoE's Pill, ECB's Schnabel & RBNZ's Conway.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In April of this year, Israel's Foreign Ministry created a position that had never before existed: special envoy to the Christian world. The appointment came after a string of incidents that have strained Israel's standing with Christian communities: an IDF soldier destroyed a statue of Jesus in Lebanon; during the war with Iran, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, was barred for safety reasons from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; a nun was assaulted in Jerusalem; and videos of Jewish Israelis despicably spitting on Christians have gone viral on social media. There are not very many of these incidents, thankfully, but each and every one does enormous damage to Israel's standing and contradicts all of the good work that Israel does to keep its Christian minority safe. Aside from the publicity problems that they create, these incidents (with the exception of the protective measures that kept worshippers from Jerusalem's holy places during a ballistic-missile attack) are in and of themselves wrong. That's why they've been so roundly condemned by the highest levels of Israeli government, including by Prime Minister Netanyahu. In response, the foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar has appointed one person to mediate Israel's relationship with the Christian world as a full-time charge. That person is George Deek, a veteran Israeli diplomat, an Arab Christian whose family has lived in Jaffa for hundreds of years, and the first Christian in Israel's history to reach ambassadorial rank, serving in Nigeria, Norway, and finally Azerbaijan before assuming this post. In today's podcast, Ambassador Deek addresses those incidents directly, distinguishing isolated wrongdoing from patterns that demand real institutional response. He lays out an argument about why Israel's bond with the Christian world is simultaneously theological and strategic and delineates his strategy in relation to the major cultural crises of our moment: that the Middle East is losing its ancient minorities at the same time the West is losing its confidence, and that both crises stem from the same failure to answer honestly the question of what went wrong—a failure that too easily curdles into blame, and from blame into anti-Semitism. This episode of The Tikvah Podcast is generously sponsored by Jeffrey Druckman and Erica Goldman in memory of Vicki Frolich. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Tikvah Podcast, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle. Visit tikvah.org/circle to learn more and join. 

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening  The Tai-Ex opened down 185 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 46,833, on turnover of 11.8 billion NT. The market closed sharply (大幅地) higher on Wednesday. The main board rose for a second day. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ended at the day's highest price, after its American depositary receipts made strong gains in overnight (一夜之間的 / 隔夜的) trading. Presidential Order removes top trade representative from office  The Office of the President has issued a Presidential Order formally remove the government's top trade negotiator from office. The move comes after Premier Cho Jung-tai suspended (停職) Yang Jen-ni on Monday. An investigation (調查) found Yang had bullied her late deputy, Yen Huai-shing, at work. Yen died in March at the age of 53, shortly after resigning from her job as the deputy chief of the Office of Trade Negotiations. A Cabinet report said Yang created a difficult workplace for Yen. Yang has repeatedly denied doing anything wrong. She is threatening to take legal action, saying the case has hurt her reputation (名譽). Philippines extends 14-day visa-free entry for Taiwanese travelers The Philippines has extended (延長) its 14-day visa-free entry program for Taiwan passport holders (護照持有人) until June 30, 2027. The Manila Economic and Cultural Office says the move gives Taiwan passport holders the same special treatment (待遇) they received last year. The office says the extension follows the Philippine government's order to give equal visa-free benefits (好處 / 優惠) to Taiwan. That is because Philippine passport holders can also travel to Taiwan without a visa. The Philippines first allowed Taiwan travelers to enter visa-free for up to 14 days on July 1, 2025. The program was originally set to end on June 30 of this year. Qatar declares 'positive progress' in indirect US-Iran talks Qatar's Foreign Ministry says there has been "positive progress" in indirect (間接的) talks between the United States and Iran in Doha. Mediators (調停人 / 調解人) have been moving between the two sides to discuss issues linked to a memorandum of understanding. US President Donald Trump says denuclearisation is "moving along well." But Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says official talks have not started yet, and working groups are still being formed. The two sides seem to disagree on more than the main issues. They also disagree on whether important topics have even been discussed. Mitch Mccann reports from New York. Ivory Coast floods kill 59 Floods in Ivory Coast have killed at least 59 people this year, according to a government spokesperson. The announcement came after a Cabinet meeting, where officials discussed the high number of deaths. On Monday, heavy rain caused floods and landslides (土石流 / 山崩) in the capitals of Ghana and Ivory Coast. At least 24 people died. The government urged people to follow safety rules and evacuate (疏散 / 撤離) high-risk areas. The World Meteorological Organization says Africa is one of the parts of the world most at risk from extreme weather. But Africa produces only a small share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (排放). Rising number of whales spotted off Brazil A conservation (保育) group says humpback whales are now seen more often off Rio de Janeiro. It says their numbers are recovering after years of commercial whaling in the past. The Humpback Whale Project says the population (族群數量) has grown from about 2,000 to 35,000 in 40 years. In 1982, the International Whaling Commission ordered a pause in commercial whaling. That pause began three years later. Between June and November, humpback whales move through Brazilian waters. Their return is helping tourism. Some companies now offer whale-watching trips. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 108 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 46,234 on turnover of 19.1 billion N-T. The market went solidly higher on Tuesday. It also saw its third-biggest point rise during a trading day. Investors were again interested in big electronics and semiconductor shares. That helped push the main board higher. MOFA stepping up official document security amid negligence accusation The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is taking steps to make its official (官方的) document system safer. The statement comes after a Control Yuan report accused the ministry of poor handling of several possible document leaks (洩漏) in 2024 and 2025. Foreign ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei says the ministry has been checking its electronic document rules. He says it is also working to make the system safer after finding possible leaks of official papers. The Control Yuan report questioned some of the ministry's earlier responses to the leaked documents. Taipei Metro to accept credit cards and mobile pay starting today And, Passengers (乘客) on the Taipei Metro can use credit cards or digital wallets linked to those cards starting today. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced the new payment (付款) service. He said the move is meant to help Taipei follow international trends. The metro operator says it will accept major international and Taiwan credit cards. It will also accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. The change follows the launch (推出) of Q-R code payments in January. That system lets passengers use major electronic payment services to take buses and M-R-T trains in Taipei and New Taipei. Iran refuses direct talks with US in Doha Iran says it will not hold direct talks (直接談判) with the United States in Doha yet. Iran says the current ceasefire agreement must first be fully carried out. Qatar's Foreign Ministry also says Iranian officials and U-S envoy Steve Witkoff will not meet face-to-face on Tuesday. Washington had hoped to use the 60-day talks to pressure Tehran on its nuclear program (核子計畫). But Iran says the main goal is to make sure the U-S-Iran ceasefire continues. Tehran is also calling for a three-country committee to help protect Lebanon's sovereignty as part of the wider peace deal. Nick Harper in Washington says Iran's refusal to talk directly with the American team is making it harder for Washington to deal with the nuclear issue during the 60-day period. Thousands protest immigration in South Africa Thousands of protesters (抗議者) have gathered in South Africa to protest illegal immigration. It is the country's largest protest about migration since 2008. Activists blame migrants (移民) for joblessness and crime. They gave the government until June 30 to remove all migrants staying in the country illegally. But the government rejected the deadline. It says only officials can carry out immigration laws. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for peaceful protests. Police have sent hundreds of officers to cities such as Johannesburg and Durban to stop violence. Past protests have led to attacks on migrants and damage to property. Thousands of migrants are now leaving South Africa because they fear for their safety (安全). That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 Today, Iran's foreign ministry has bucked JD Vance saying they haven't agreed to nuclear inspectors; the ACLU is set to monitor election certification amid Trump's efforts to interfere; the Senate has voted to adopt a War Powers Resolution to stop the Iran war; the Supreme Court sides with the Trump administration on green card holders; government documents show the Trump administration filled the reflecting pool with city water causing the algae bloom; ABC has launched an on-air campaign urging viewers to back them against the FCC; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. Thank You, Smalls For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to Smalls.com/DAILYBEANS Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges.Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast Guest: Johanna Silva Waki Executive director of Run for SomethingRun For Something - runforsomething.net The Latest Breakdown:The Breakdown | Trump And Trillionaires' Secret Plan To Destroy America StoriesIran's Foreign Ministry says no U.N. inspectors scheduled to visit bombed nuclear sites | MS NOW Senate Votes to Direct End to Iran War, Rebuking Trump on War Powers | The New York Times Immigration case dealing with green card holders, Supreme Court sides with Trump administration | AP News ACLU to monitor election certification as part of $50 million midterm effort | NBC News Trump Says Vandals Sabotaged the Reflecting Pool. Internal Documents Raise Doubts | The New York Times ABC launches on-air campaign urging viewers to back network in Trump agency fights | Reuters   Good TroubleALERT: Oppose House Amendment to Defund the Peace Corps! →trevorproject.org/beans →Comment on FR-6518-P-01 Equal Access  in HUD Programs Revisions  →Triumphal Arch - Section 106 Assessment Draft Programmatic Agreement →Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance -  Open For Comments →Recall Gov. Jeff Landry - Louisianadeservesbetter.com →STOP the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi - Action Network →detentionwatchnetwork.org →FieldTeam6.org →Standwithminnesota.com →Tell Congress Ice out Now | Indivisible, Defund ICE | 5Calls →Congress: Divest From ICE and CBP | ACLU →ICE List  →iceout.org Good NewsTour — DANA GOLDBERGTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  GATEWAY LOUNGE | Teresa Trull and Barbara Higbie: Reunion, Pride & CD Release. Opening act Jeannie Tanner. →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Harry Dunn is running for CongressHarry Dunn for Maryland Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - bluewavecalifornia.org/concert Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ The Daily Beans is donating $10,000 and invites you to give what you can to support their life-affirming work - Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser   Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71 More Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.  Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Iran's Foreign Ministry says no visit has been scheduled for U.N. inspectors to visit Iran's bombed nuclear sites.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says a scheduled meeting between Iranian and U.S. delegations in Switzerland has been postponed, and planning is underway for another one in the coming days.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry says planned US–Iran talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland were canceled after US Vice President JD Vance withdrew from a planned trip to meet Iranian negotiators.

Sweden's Foreign Ministry has announced that planned talks between the U-S and Iran have been postponed, new details in the investigation of a south Texas plane crash reveal the pilot radioed the tower before the crash, stating there were mechanical issues with the plane and the Austin City Auditor's Office says in a new report that more than a half-dozen Austin Energy employees violated city policy by using city vehicles for personal use.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For review:1. Cuban lawmakers unanimously approved sweeping reforms backed by the Communist ​Party and former leader Raul Castro that would privatize a vast swath of the country's socialist economy in a bid to survive punishing U.S. sanctions.The ‌measures, if implemented as passed, would represent the single largest change to Cuba's socialist model since former leader Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution and a major shift towards a market economy.2. President Trump on Wednesday signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran ending the war between the two countries.3. Iran will invite the UN's nuclear watchdog agency to inspect its nuclear sites and begin work on identifying and uncovering the locations of Tehran's enriched material, US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff tells US lawmakers in a private briefing.4. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman warned Thursday that a continued IDF presence in southern Lebanon would mean the “annulment” of the memorandum of understanding it signed with the United States, as Israel doubled down on its plans to keep troops in the area amid its ongoing conflict with the Hezbollah terror group.5. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO Thursday the Pentagon will review its force presence in Europe within six months.“This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,” Hegseth told a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.6. USAF CCA Update.

Media reports say the US and Iran will meet in Switzerland on Friday. This comes after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian officially signed a memorandum of understanding to hold talks to end the war.

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (6/15/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v795rc0","div":"rumble_v795rc0"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order): 410 Gone The Activation Tour - Nashville, TN with Derrick Broze | Derrick Broze Derrick Broze on X: "The Activation Tour is Coming to Nashville Next Month! As is typical with these events, I will be giving a presentation on Exit and Build strategy and the importance of local community action. I will also be joined by my brother Ryan Cristian @TLAVagabond Stay tuned for https://t.co/Qiz4rbYs1a" / X New Tab Israel's Election Manipulation Ignored, Over $1B To Pfizer For New COVID Shots & Trump's Iran Lies (5) sashalatypova.substack.com "Due Diligence and Art" on X: "Absolute bullshit brought to you by Muppet Tulsi. The Ukrainian "biolabs" have been property of the US DOD since 2005, they were purchased from the USSR bankruptcy sale for $15 million. The agreement is literally on the Ukrainian gov (Rada) website. How much are we, the US" / X (5) Justin Amash on X: "Everyone should be against FISA. With or without Bill Pulte or the SAVE America Act. FISA 702 is unconstitutional. It lets the government search Americans' communications without a warrant. Add a warrant requirement as the Fourth Amendment demands—or leave it expired forever. https://t.co/eTIlcgbs1q" / X Knoxie on X: "Trump is putting his own lawyers in charge of the Epstein files so they can bury whatever they want. His lead criminal defense attorney is already running the DOJ. Another one is being handed SDNY. At the same time, he's moving the guy who helped clean up after Leon Black's https://t.co/YvYLi50A2P" / X Top Pentagon Official Admits Boat Strike May Have Killed Victims of Human Trafficking (5) Ryan Grim on X: "Congressional candidate files a complaint with the local AG, accusing Israel of interfering in his election" / X (5) Thomas Massie on X: "Section 219 (was 224) of the NDAA contains a dangerous provision to integrate our military tech with Israel's. @RepRoKhanna & I submitted an amendment to strike 219. I included the Rules Committee roster here; 7 of 13 members must agree in order for our amendment to get a vote. https://t.co/9SeN7gdvtM" / X New Tab (5) The Cradle on X: "VIDEO | UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland has been charged with disorderly conduct after crashing the UFC Freedom 250 fan fest near the White House on US President Donald Trump's birthday. The fighter says he was not invited due to comments he made about Trump, the https://t.co/GXhVAKj4S8" / X (5) The Last American Vagabond on X: "https://t.co/KVq8yzXmev" / X (5) Aaron Rupar on X: "it's notable to me that the administration tried to frame tonight's UFC event as a "gift to Americans" but you can't watch it unless you have a paid subscription to Paramount+" / X (5) The Last American Vagabond on X: "We are witnessing the end of the #TwoPartyIllusion in real time (and it's profiteers like little Jack here)." / X (5) Tim Pool on X: "WE ARE SO FUCKING BACK" / X (2) Benny Johnson on X: "There has been an energy shift. Did you feel it? We are going to win. Libs have been set back 1000 years by this. They have no answer… And yes, Patriots are in control⚡️

Beijing has criticized Washington for adding several Chinese companies to a list of entities allegedly supporting China's military, urging the United States to "correct its erroneous practices".中方批评美方将多家中国企业列入一份所谓的“涉军”实体清单，并敦促美方“纠正错误做法”。On Monday, the US Defense Department added several major Chinese companies, including Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, to the list, according to US media.据美国媒体报道，美国国防部于6月8日将阿里巴巴、百度、比亚迪等多家中国知名企业列入该清单。Responding at a daily news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, "China has consistently and firmly opposed the US overstretching the concept of national security and formulating various types of discriminatory lists to go after Chinese businesses.中国外交部发言人林剑6月9日在北京举行的例行记者会上回应称，“中方一贯坚决反对美方泛化国家安全概念，划设各类名目的歧视性清单，无理打压中国企业。"We urge the US to correct its erroneous practices and stop its unwarranted suppression of Chinese enterprises," Lin said.“我们敦促美方纠正错误做法，停止对中国企业的无理打压，”林剑表示。China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, he added.他补充道，中方将采取必要措施，坚定维护中国企业的正当合法权益。According to leading IT news portal TechCrunch, the list — known as the 1260H list, after the specific section of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that created it — "is just one tool that the US has used to place restrictions on Chinese tech".据美国知名科技资讯网站TechCrunch报道，这份所谓的“1260H清单”是根据美国《2021财年国防授权法案》第1260H条款设立，“仅仅是美国用来限制中国科技发展的工具之一”。The updated list, which supersedes an earlier 2025 version, now includes a broad swathe of China's top technology companies, according to Reuters.据路透社报道，更新后的清单取代了2025年的先前版本，如今涵盖了中国一大批顶尖科技公司。It also reported that other companies added include biotech enterprise WuXi AppTec, artificial intelligence-driven robotics company RoboSense Technology Co and Unitree, a leading Chinese maker of humanoid and quadruped robots.报道还指出，被新增列入的其他企业包括生物科技企业药明康德、人工智能驱动的机器人公司速腾聚创，以及中国领先的人形与四足机器人制造商宇树科技。Baidu said in a statement to Tech-Crunch that "the suggestion that Baidu is a military company is entirely baseless. We will not hesitate to use all options available to us to have the company removed from the list".百度在给TechCrunch的一份声明中表示，“所谓百度是一家军工企业的说法毫无根据。我们将毫不犹豫地利用一切可用手段将该公司从清单中移除。”Alibaba told TechCrunch that it "is not a Chinese military company nor part of any military-civil fusion strategy", adding that it will take all available legal action against attempts to misrepresent the company.阿里巴巴在给TechCrunch的声明中表示，其“既不是中国军工企业，也未参与任何军民融合战略”，并补充称，将对任何试图歪曲该公司的行为采取一切可用的法律行动。discriminatory list /dɪˈskrɪmɪnətəri lɪst/歧视性清单unwarranted suppression /ʌnˈwɒrəntɪd səˈpreʃən/无理打压1260H list /wʌn tuː sɪks əʊ eɪtʃ lɪst/ 1260H清单（美国防授权法案第1260H条）National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) /ˈnæʃənəl dɪˈfens ˌɔːθəraɪˈzeɪʃən ækt/国防授权法案quadruped robot /ˈkwɒdrʊped ˈrəʊbɒt/四足机器人military-civil fusion strategy /ˈmɪlɪtəri ˈsɪvəl ˈfjuːʒən ˈstrætədʒi/军民融合战略

US President Trump said talks with Iran were continuing at a rapid pace; he thinks he will have an agreement with Iran to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz over the next week.Iran's Foreign Ministry said the US bears direct responsibility for violations of the ceasefire with Iran and by Israel in Lebanon, adding that a violation on one front was equal to violations on all fronts.The US is in talks to expand nuclear weapon deployments in Europe, according to the FT.Crude futures gradually pulled back overnight following the prior day's rally; fixed income caught a bid overnight.APAC stocks were mixed following the choppy performance stateside; European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.5%.Looking ahead, highlights include EZ CPI (May), JOLTs Job Openings (Apr), RCM/TIPP Economic Optimism, New Zealand Export/Import Prices (Q1), NBP Policy Announcement (Jun). Speakers include Fed's Kashkari & Hammack, BoE's Bailey & Greene, ECB's Vujcic. Supply from the UK & Germany. Earnings from Dollar General, Palo Alto & ULTA Beauty.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

China accused Japan's defense minister on Monday of spreading baseless claims and sowing confusion, urging the international community to stay on high alert to prevent and suppress the rise of Japanese neomilitarism.周一，中方指责日本防卫大臣发表毫无根据的言论、制造舆论混乱，呼吁国际社会保持高度警惕，防范和遏制日本新军国主义抬头。Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the statement at a daily news briefing in Beijing, after Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi recently pledged to keep strengthening the military and rejected Japan being labeled a neomilitarist country at a Singapore forum.日本防卫大臣小泉进次郎近日在新加坡一场论坛上表态，将持续强化军力，并否认日本存在新军国主义倾向。针对该言论，中国外交部发言人林剑在北京例行记者会上作出上述回应。Lin said Koizumi's remarks were totally groundless given historical facts, legal grounds and figures on the matter, adding that such a stance makes it impossible for Japan to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.林剑表示，结合历史事实、法理依据和相关数据来看，小泉进次郎的言论完全站不住脚。日方此类表态，根本无法赢得亚洲邻国及国际社会的信任。Japanese militarists committed horrendous crimes in World War II and inflicted untold suffering to its Asian neighbors and Allied nations, Lin said.林剑指出，二战期间，日本军国主义犯下滔天罪行，给亚洲邻国及同盟国人民带来了深重灾难。To prevent the revival of Japanese militarism, a series of instruments with legal effect under international law — including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation — clearly require Japan to be "completely disarmed" and not to maintain such industries as "would enable her to re-arm for war", he said.他表示，为杜绝日本军国主义死灰复燃，《开罗宣言》《波茨坦公告》等一系列具有国际法效力的文件明确规定，日本必须彻底解除武装，不得保留可用于战时重整军备的工业体系。Despite such restrictions, Japan's latest defense budget has exceeded 9 trillion yen ($56 billion), hitting a record high for 14 consecutive years, he added.他补充道，尽管存在上述国际法约束，日本最新国防预算已突破9万亿日元（约合560亿美元），连续14年创下历史新高。Citing more figures signaling Japan's expanding military buildup, Lin said Tokyo's total defense expenditure has surged to 2 percent of its GDP with plans to further increase it to 3.5 percent, while military orders from the Defense Ministry have tripled over the past five years.林剑列举多项军力扩张相关数据指出，日本国防开支占国内生产总值比重已飙升至2%，且计划进一步提升至3.5%；过去五年，日本防卫省军事订单规模更是增长两倍。Since the current administration came to power in October, it has been accelerating the deployment of intermediate and long-range missiles, easing the export restrictions of lethal weapons, and promoting the revision of its Constitution and three key security documents, he said.他表示，日本本届政府自十月上台以来，持续加速部署中远程导弹、放宽致命性武器出口限制，并推动修改宪法及三份核心安保文件。These actions are seen as attempts to further breach the international and domestic laws and challenge the postwar international order, he added.他补充表示，上述一系列举动，实质上是在进一步突破国内外相关法律约束、挑战战后国际秩序。Regarding Japan's deepened military engagement with NATO, Lin said Japan has been pursuing remilitarization at full throttle, engaging in frequent interactions with a military organization from outside the region, expanding the scope of activities of its Self-Defense Forces, and building a combat-ready operational system.针对日本不断深化同北约的军事合作，林剑指出，日本正全速推进军事化进程，频繁同域外军事组织往来互动、不断拓宽自卫队活动范围、加紧打造实战化作战体系。"This is Japan trying to break free from the constraints of its Constitution, domestic and international laws, and its 'exclusively defense-oriented' principle," he said.他强调：“这恰恰说明日本正谋求挣脱和平宪法、国内外法律以及‘专守防卫'原则带来的束缚。”Japan portrays itself as a "peace-loving country", but its actions move in the very opposite direction, he added.他最后补充，日本嘴上标榜自身是“爱好和平的国家”，实际行动却背道而驰。

Iran's Foreign Ministry has condemned the "flagrant and unjustified" ceasefire violations by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that these took place despite ongoing diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan.伊朗外交部抨击美国在霍尔木兹海峡“明目张胆”违反停火，强调此举发生在巴基斯坦积极调停之际，是对外交努力的公然挑衅。In the latest developments, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official said a renewed war with the US is unlikely, but warned that Tehran stands ready to repel any attack, Al Jazeera reported.据半岛电视台报道，最新进展中，一名伊斯兰革命卫队官员表示，与美国再次开战的可能性不大，但警告称，德黑兰已准备好击退任何攻击。"The possibility of war is low because of the enemy's weakness, but the armed forces are lying in wait," said Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a commander of the IRGC Navy.伊斯兰革命卫队海军指挥官穆罕默德·阿克巴尔扎德说：“由于敌人的弱点，战争的可能性很低，但武装部队正在严阵以待。”In a statement issued on Tuesday, reported by Mehr News Agency, the foreign ministry slammed the US Army for continuing its "illegal and unjustifiable actions" since the announcement of the ceasefire on April 8.据梅尔通讯社报道，伊朗外交部在周二发布的一份声明中痛斥美国军队自4月8日宣布停火以来仍旧继续采取“非法且不合理的行动”。The ministry said the US had committed "a flagrant violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region over the past 48 hours", particularly following "multiple instances of maritime piracy against Iranian commercial vessels".外交部表示，美国“在过去48小时内公然违反霍尔木兹甘地区的停火协议”，尤其是在“多次对伊朗商船实施海上海盗行为”之后。The US has said its attacks were defensive in nature, targeting missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines.美国表示，其攻击本质上是防御性的，目标是导弹发射场和试图布设水雷的船只。In his call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other regional leaders, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran's readiness to establish a "dignified framework" aimed at ending the ongoing fighting and regional tensions.伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽希齐扬在与卡塔尔埃米尔谢赫塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿勒萨尼等地区领导人通话中重申，德黑兰愿打造一个“有尊严的框架”，从而结束当前冲突，缓解地区紧张局势。Pezeshkian spoke with heads of state from several mostly Muslim-majority countries on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.借宰牲节之机，佩泽希齐扬与多国穆斯林领导人进行了电话沟通。He and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, exchanged greetings on Tuesday. They also underscored the necessity of Islamic unity and indicated a new chapter in regional relations.5月26日，伊朗总统佩泽希齐扬与埃及总统塞西互致问候。双方强调伊斯兰团结的必要性，此举预示地区关系将开启新篇章。Pezeshkian emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation across the Islamic world and expand bilateral relations between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur in his phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.在与马来西亚总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣的通话中，佩泽希齐扬强调，有必要加强整个伊斯兰世界的合作，并扩大德黑兰与吉隆坡之间的双边关系。Meanwhile in the US, President Donald Trump was expected to meet with his Cabinet on Wednesday at a precarious moment for talks aimed at ending the conflict with Iran.与此同时，美国总统特朗普预计将于5月27日与内阁会面，此时正值结束伊朗冲突的谈判进入微妙关头。He took to social media on Tuesday to grumble that even if Tehran were to offer a complete surrender, the media would paint the end of the conflict as Iran scoring "a masterful and brilliant victory".他5月26日在社交媒体上抱怨称，即使德黑兰完全投降，媒体也会把冲突的结束描绘成伊朗取得了“一场巧妙而辉煌的胜利”。US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations between the US and Iran on extending the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz will take "a few more days".美国国务卿马尔科·鲁比奥表示，美国与伊朗关于延长停火和重新开放霍尔木兹海峡的谈判将“还需要几天”。According to Iranian sources, an initial deal would end hostilities on all fronts, get traffic moving through the strait within 30 days, and possibly provide some financial relief.据伊朗消息，初步协议将全面结束敌对行动，30天内恢复海峡通航，并可能提供一定经济援助。More difficult issues such as Iran's nuclear program would be negotiated in the second phase. Iran has been allowing some ships through the strait, giving preference to vessels linked to countries with which it has close ties, Reuters has reported.据路透社报道，伊朗核计划等更为棘手的问题将在第二阶段进行谈判。与此同时，伊朗已允许部分船只通行霍尔木兹海峡，并优先放行那些与其关系密切国家的船只。The conflict, which began on Feb 28, has caused an unprecedented oil supply shock, pushing up the costs of fuel, fertilizer and food. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas, has been a fraction of its usual level since the fighting began.这场始于2月28日的冲突引发了前所未有的石油供应冲击，推高了燃料、化肥及食品价格。霍尔木兹海峡平时承载全球约五分之一的石油与液化天然气贸易，但开战以来，通航量仅剩正常水平的一小部分。The IRGC Navy said in a statement on Tuesday that as many as 25 other ships and oil tankers have been able to transit through the strait in coordination with the IRGC naval forces, Iranian media reported.据伊朗媒体报道，伊斯兰革命卫队海军5月26日在一份声明中称，在与革命卫队海军的协调下，已有多达25艘其他船只和油轮通过海峡。Also on Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council condemned what it said was an "egregious drone attack" that targeted an electricity generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates on May 17.5月26日，联合国安理会也对5月17日阿联酋巴拉卡核电站内围外一台发电机遭到的“严重无人机袭击”表示谴责。Strait of Hormuz /streɪt əv hɔːˈmuːz/霍尔木兹海峡mediated by /ˈmiːdieɪtɪd baɪ/由……调停Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) /ɪzˈlæmɪk ˌrevəˈluːʃənəri ɡɑːd kɔː/伊斯兰革命卫队lie in wait /laɪ ɪn weɪt/埋伏，严阵以待lay mines /leɪ maɪnz/布设水雷Eid al-Adha /iːd æl ˈɑːdə/宰牲节underscore /ˌʌndəˈskɔː/强调precarious /prɪˈkeəriəs/不稳定的，微妙的grumble /ˈɡrʌmbəl/抱怨，发牢骚Barakah nuclear power plant /bəˈrɑːkə ˈnjuːkliə ˈpaʊə plɑːnt/巴拉卡核电站

Iran's foreign ministry says US strikes are a "gross violation" of the ceasefire. The BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to John Campbell.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Ambassador Amira Oron about Egypt's role in the Middle East. Ambassador Oron outlines Egypt's approach to Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the Iranian issue. They also discuss Israel-Egypt relations and Turkey's efforts to play a role in Gaza.  Ambassador Amira Oron served for three decades in Israel's Foreign Ministry and dedicated her career to diplomatic activity in the Arab world. She was Israel's Ambassador to Egypt from 2020 to 2024, having previously served in Cairo in the 1990s, later as Head of the Egypt Department at the Ministry. She was also the head of Israel's diplomatic mission in Ankara.

2026-05-11 | UPDATES #199 | While Zelenskyy was signing satirical decrees, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova were performing the other half of the regime's choreography: the threat.The Russian Foreign Ministry, captured by Pravda EN, RFE/RL, the Washington Times, and TASS, issued what RFE/RL called "a belligerent warning to Kyiv, and diplomatic missions there" — threatening to "attack the Ukrainian capital if Ukraine did in fact disrupt the May 9 events." The Foreign Ministry advised foreign embassies and international organisations located in Kyiv to evacuate their offices in case of such a strike. The Defence Ministry urged civilians to evacuate as well. Moscow is a thug and a bully, and these threats are completely in character. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: Ukrainska Pravda — "Ukraine officially allows Russia to hold Victory Day parade in Moscow: Zelenskyy signs decree" (8 May 2026) Mediaite — "Zelensky Trolls Putin By Announcing Ukraine Will Honor Ceasefire for Moscow Parade — By Including Exact Military Coordinates" (8 May 2026) Mezha — "Zelenskyy allows Moscow parade and excludes Red Square from weapons plan" (8 May 2026) RBC-Ukraine — "Zelenskyy allows a parade in Moscow on May 9" (8 May 2026) LIGA.net — "Zelenskyy's decree allows parade to be held in Moscow" (8 May 2026) Euronews — "Trump announces three-day of ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia" (8 May 2026) Washington Times / AP — "What Russia's low-key Victory Day celebrations reveal about Putin and the war in Ukraine" (8 May 2026)Pravda EN / English Pravda — "Lavrov Warns of 'No Mercy' for Attempts to Disrupt Victory Day Celebrations" (7-8 May 2026) Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty — "Ukraine Says It Hit Russian Caspian Sea Warship; Kremlin Boosts Security For May 9 Victory Day" (7 May 2026) TASS / Pravda Armenia — "From a briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, M.V.Zakharova" (7 May 2026) Pravda Trump — Yuri Baranchik commentary (7 May 2026) ----------

It's Thursday, May 7th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark German authorities upset with Christian YouTubers Officials in Germany are investigating two Christian YouTubers for criticizing Islam. The two young men, Niko and Tino, run a YouTube channel called Eternal Life. They published a video titled “Islam is no peace” in 2024.  The Hamburg Public Prosecutor's Office is now investigating both of them for allegedly violating Article 166 of the German Criminal Code. Violations are punishable by up to three years in prison.    Tino told Apollo News last month, “I don't understand what they're trying to investigate. … People shouldn't have to be afraid to express their opinions and profess their faith in Jesus Christ.”  Israel created Special Envoy to Christians over lost credibility The government of Israel created a position of Special Envoy to the Christian World last month. Israel's ties with Christians churches have deteriorated after several recent incidents. In one case, Israeli soldiers destroyed a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. In another, Israeli police prevented services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday during the Iran war.  Israel also wants to build ties with young Christian leaders and influencers. The Foreign Ministry plans to bring thousands of these leaders to the country by the end of this year.   Vivek Ramaswamy won Ohio GOP primary for governor In the United States, Ohio and Indiana held primary elections on Tuesday.  Tech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican primary for governor of Ohio. RAMASWAMY: “We have an historic opportunity to lead Ohio to be the top state in the country, to raise a young family, to give our kids a world class education, and to be the state where we revive this quaint idea that we call the American dream. “And tonight that is very personal to me. My parents came halfway around the world to Cincinnati, Ohio, half a century ago, with nothing to their name. I went to public schools through eighth grade because private schools were not on the table for us. I went to St. X for high school. “My dad worked for a five-figure salary for most of his career at the G.E. plant right off I-75 in Evendale. My mom worked at the V.A. taking care of nursing home patients as well. “And now, after having founded thankfully successful businesses, in a position to call myself the Republican nominee for governor in the very state where I was born and raised. That is the American Dream that makes American exceptionalism possible. I know that American dream exists because I have lived it in this state.” Vivek Ramaswamy will face Democrat Amy Acton in November to replace current Republican Governor Mike DeWine. In Indiana, President Donald Trump endorsed seven challengers to state senators who opposed his redistricting plan. A majority of those Trump-backed candidates won their primaries.   Illinois dropped pro-abortion amendment from ballot Officials in Illinois recently dropped a pro-abortion amendment from this year's ballot measures. The amendment would have enshrined the murder of unborn babies as a right in the state's constitution. The Chicago Tribune described the development as a “rare pro-life victory” in the pro-abortion state. Despite this, LifeSiteNews notes, “Illinois is the leading national hub providing abortions for women who live in states where abortion is banned.” Americans fear running out of money more than dying Americans are more afraid of running out of money than they are of dying. That's according to a new study by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. The survey found that 67% of Americans say they worry more about running out of money than death. That's up 10 percentage points from 2022.  Not surprisingly, a recent Gallup poll found that the top financial concern of American families is the high cost of living.  In Matthew 6:33-34, Jesus said “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” CNN founder Ted Turner has died Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, died yesterday at the age of 87. The Ohio-born businessman revolutionized television news. At CNN, he started the first 24-hour cable news channel. The network wrote yesterday, “Turner was also an internationally known yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States.” Turner was married and divorced three times. He endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He was also known for making derogatory remarks about Christians and pro-lifers.  In a July 1989 Los Angeles Times article, Ted Turner called pro-lifers “bozos” and laughably claimed that pro-lifers believe that “sex was sinful.”  He also said, “A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present levels, would be ideal.” More GenZers claim to be Christians and read their Bibles And finally, Dr. George Barna released new research on the spirituality of Gen Z, the youngest adult generation in America. The report found that more members of the generation are claiming to be Christians. That figure is up five percentage points over the past four years. Similarly, weekly Bible reading is up 10 percentage points.  However, Gen Z also has the lowest biblical worldview level of any American generation.  Dr. Barna said, “Our research indicates that many young adults are seeking an authentic Christian experience, initially through religious practices, such as attending church services. Many of them are attempting to evaluate what Christianity has to offer without understanding the biblical principles that promote and support those religious practices.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, May 7th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on March 29, said talks with Iran are ongoing and making “very good” progress. He urged Tehran to take the deal or face destruction of its critical infrastructure. A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry denies negotiations are taking place.Transportation Security Administration agents are expected to be paid again soon after Trump signed a presidential memorandum last week that would allow them to get paid despite the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which is now officially the longest in history, with no end in sight.

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (3/24/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v75e3ly","div":"rumble_v75e3ly"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order):  (18) Carey on X: "It's actually insane how many people believe this lie about the war in Iran.

Last time we spoke about the Soviet-Japanese neutrality pact. In the summer of 1939, the Nomonhan Incident escalated into a major clash along the Halha River, where Soviet-Mongolian forces under Georgy Zhukov decisively defeated Japan's Kwantung Army. Zhukov's offensive, launched on August 20, involved intense artillery, bombers, and encirclement tactics, annihilating the Japanese 23rd Division and exposing weaknesses in Japanese mechanized warfare. The defeat, coinciding with the Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact, forced Japan to negotiate a ceasefire on September 15-16, redrawing borders and deterring further northern expansion. Stalin navigated negotiations with Britain, France, and Germany to avoid a two-front war, ultimately signing the German-Soviet pact on August 23, which secured Soviet neutrality in Europe while addressing eastern threats. Post-Nomonhan, Soviet-Japanese relations warmed rapidly: fishing disputes were resolved, ambassadors exchanged, and the Chinese Eastern Railway sale finalized. By 1941, a neutrality pact was concluded, allowing Japan to pivot southward toward China and Southeast Asia.   #193 The Chiang-Wang Divide Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. After that lengthy mini series covering the battle of Khalkin Gol, we need to venture back into the second sino-japanese war, however like many other colossal events….well a lot was going on simultaneously. I wanted to take an episode to talk about the beginning of something known as the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China, or much shorter, the Wang Jingwei Regime. It's been quite some time since we spoke about this character and he is a large part of the second sino-japanese war.    After the fall of Tianjin and Beiping, the government offices in Nanjing entered their annual summer recess. All of GMD's senior leadership, from Chiang Kai-shek down to Wang Jingwei, gathered on Mount Lu, a picturesque resort in northern Jiangxi, south of the Yangtze, famed for cliffs, clouds, and summer villas. Although Chiang had visited Mount Lu every summer, this was the first occasion that nearly the entire central government assembled there. Analysts suspected the gathering was a deliberate move to relocate government functions inland in the event of total war. Dozens of the nation's leading intellectuals were invited to Mount Lu to discuss strategies for countering Japan's ambitions. The forum was scheduled to begin on July 15 and to last twenty-seven days in three phases. The bridge incident caught them off guard. Unlike Manchuria, Beiping had long been the nation's capital, and the shock added urgency to the proceedings. When the forum, chaired by Wang, finally opened on July 16, speculation ran as to whether this signaled another regional conflict or the onset of full-scale war. The media pressed for a resolute stance of resistance from the government. To dispel the mounting confusion and perhaps his own indecision, Chiang delivered a solemn speech on July 17, declaring that if the incident could not be resolved peacefully, China would face the "crucial juncture" of national survival and would consider military action; if war began, every Chinese person, from every corner of the country and from every walk of life, would have to sacrifice all to defend the nation.   Chiang's Mount Lu Speech was now commonly regarded as the moment when China publicly proclaimed its firm commitment to resistance. Contemporary observers, however, did not take Chiang's stance at face value. Tao Xisheng, a Peking University law professor who had been invited, recalled that after the speech, people gathered in Hu Shi's room to discuss whether a peace option remained. Chiang left the mountain on July 20, leaving Wang to chair the conference. The discussions continued upon their return to Nanjing, where a National Defense Conference was organized in mid-August. It was also Tao's first encounter with Wang Jingwei. A "peace faction," largely composed of civil officials and intellectuals, began to take shape around Wang, favoring diplomatic solutions over costly and potentially ineffective military action.   During this period, both Chiang and Wang publicly called for resistance, while both harbored hopes for a peaceful solution. Yet their emphases differed. On July 29, Wang Jingwei delivered a radio address from Nanjing titled "The Critical Juncture," echoing Chiang's slogan. He likewise asserted that after repeated concessions and retreats, the critical juncture had come for China to rise against Japan. It would be a harsh form of resistance, since a weak nation had no alternative but to sacrifice every citizen's life and scorch every inch of land. Yet toward the end, Wang's speech took on an ironic turn. He stated, "The so-called resistance demands sacrificing the whole land and the whole nation to resist the invader. If there is no weakness in the world, then there is also no strength. Once we have completed the sacrifice, we also realize the purpose of resistance. We hail 'the critical juncture'! We hail 'sacrifice'!" The sentiment sounded almost satirical, revealing his doubt about the meaning of total sacrifice.   The hope for containment was crushed by Japan's ongoing advances. On November 12, Shanghai fell. Chiang's gamble produced about 187,200 Chinese casualties, including roughly 30,000 officers trained to German standards. Japanese casualties were estimated at a third to a half of the Chinese losses, still making it their deadliest single battle to date. The battered Japanese Imperial Army and Navy, long convinced of their invincibility, were consumed by vengeful bloodlust. The army swept from Shanghai toward Nanjing, leaving a trail of murder, rape, arson, and plunder across China's heartland.   With the fall of Nanjing looming, the central government announced on November 20 that it would relocate to Chongqing, a city upriver on the Yangtze protected by sheer cliffs. Plans for Chongqing as a reserve capital had already begun in 1935, with Hankou as the midway station. To preserve elite troops for the future while saving face, Nanjing was entrusted to General Tang Shengzhi and his roughly one hundred thousand largely inexperienced soldiers. Nanjing fell on December 13. Despite this victory, Japan's hopes of ending the China Incident within three months were dashed. The carnage produced by the war, especially the Rape of Nanjing, left a profound moral stain on humanity. A mass exodus from the coastal provinces toward the hinterland began. People fled by boats, trains, buses, rickshaws, and wheelbarrows. Universities, factories, and ordinary households were moved halfway across China, step by step. The nation resolved to persevere, even in distant mountains and deserts if necessary. In Sichuan alone, government relief agencies officially registered about 9.2 million refugees during the war years.   Chiang Kai-shek, after paying respects at Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum, flew to Mount Lu with Song Meiling. The so-called Second Couple chose a more modest path: like most refugees, the Wang family traveled upriver along the Yangtze. On November 21, they left Nanjing, abandoning a recently renovated suburban home and thirty years of collected books. Coincidentally, the ship carrying Wang Jingwei from Nanjing to Wuhan was SS Yongsui, the former SS Zhongshan that had escorted Sun Yat-sen to safety and witnessed Wang's ascent and subsequent downfall from power. Ironically renamed "Yong-sui," the ship's new title meant "peace," while the compound term suijing denoted a policy of appeasement. This symbolism—Wang being carried away from Nanjing by a ship named "Eternal Peace"—foreshadowed his eventual return to the city as a champion of a "peace movement."   After the Mount Lu Forum, Hu Shi and Tao Xisheng could not return to Beiping, now under Japanese occupation. They joined the government in Nanjing. Beginning in mid-August, Japanese bombers began attacking Nanjing. Air power—an unprecedented weapon of mass destruction—humbled and awed a Chinese public largely unfamiliar with airborne warfare. By striking a target that did not serve its immediate interests, Japan demonstrated its world-class military might and employed psychological warfare against the Chinese government and people. Because Zhou Fohai's villa at Xiliuwan had a fortified cellar suitable as an air-raid shelter, a group of like-minded intellectuals and civil servants sought refuge there. They preferred a peaceful approach to the conflict, subscribing to the idea of trading space for time—building China's industrial and military capabilities before confronting Japan. Tao Xisheng and Mei Siping, old allies of Zhou Fohai, lived in his house. Another frequent guest was Luo Junqiang, an ex-communist. The former CCP leader Chen Duxiu, recently released from prison, joined their gatherings a few times. Gao Zongwu hosted another meeting site. Hu Shi, as a guest himself, jokingly called this circle the "Low-Key Club" (Didiao julebu), a label that underscored their pragmatic defiance of the government's high-flown rhetoric urging all-out resistance. Many members of this group would later become central figures in a conspiracy known as the "peace movement," with Wang Jingwei as its leader and emblem.   As Gerald Bunker noted, the peace scheme did not originate with Wang but with certain associates of Chiang, elements in Japanese military intelligence, and members of liberal-minded Japanese political circles who were linked to Konoe. Zhou Fohai belonged to the Chiang-loyalist CC faction, named for Chen Guofu and Chen Lifu. Zhou believed that resistance under current conditions was suicidal. He sought to influence Chiang through people around him, including Wang Jingwei, whom he found impressionable and began visiting at Wang's salon. Gao Zongwu, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian Department, felt sidelined by Chiang's uncompromising stance. They shared the sense that Chiang might be willing to talk but feared the price, perhaps his own leadership. They were dismayed by the lack of a long-range war plan beyond capitulation. Their view was that China's battlefield losses would worsen the terms of any settlement, and that the war's outcome seemed to benefit Soviet Russia and undermine the GMD more than China itself. The rapid collapses of Shanghai and then Nanjing vindicated their pessimism. Chiang's autocratic decision-making only deepened their dissatisfaction. They feared China was again at risk of foreign conquest from which it might not recover.   Wang Jingwei became the focal point for these disaffected individuals, drawn by his pacifist leanings, intellectual temperament, and preference for consensus-building. After the government relocated to Hankou, he lent guidance to the Literature and Art Research Society (Yiwen yanjiu hui), a propagandist body led by Zhou Fohai and Tao Xisheng. Its purpose was to steer public opinion on issues like the war of resistance and anticommunism, and to advocate a stance that the government must preserve both peace and war as options. Many believed it to be Wang's private organization; in truth, Chiang supported its activities. For much of 1938, Chiang's belligerent anti-Japanese rhetoric and Wang's conciliatory push were two sides of the GMD's broader strategy.   Among the society's regional branches, the Hong Kong chapter flourished under Mei Siping and Lin Baisheng. In addition to editing South China Daily News, Lin established Azure Books and the International Compilation and Translation Society (Guoji bianyishe) as primary propaganda organs. Ironically, Mei Siping had himself been a radical during the 1919 student protests, when he helped set fire to the deputy foreign minister's house in protest of perceived capitulation to Japan.   Wang Jingwei also actively engaged in international efforts to broker peace between Japan and China, including Trautmann's mediation by the German ambassador. Since the outbreak of war, various Western powers had contemplated serving as mediators, but none succeeded. Nazi Germany, aligned with Japan in an anti-Soviet partnership, emerged as China's most likely ally because it did not want Japan to squander its strength in China or compel China to seek Soviet help. Conversely, Japan's interest lay in prolonging the war or achieving a swift settlement. Ambassador Trautmann met with Wang Jingwei multiple times from October 31 to early November 1937 to confirm China's preference for peace before negotiating with Japan. The proposal Trautmann carried to Chiang Kai-shek on November 5 proposed terms including autonomy for Inner Mongolia, a larger demilitarized zone in North China, an expanded cease-fire around Shanghai, a halt to anti-Japanese movements, an anti-communist alliance, reduced tariffs on Japanese goods, and protection of foreign interests in China. Although Japan did not specify territorial gains, these terms deviated significantly from Chiang's demand to restore pre–Marco Polo Bridge status. After Shanghai fell, Chiang's rigidity softened.   On December 5, at Hankou, the National Defense Conference agreed to begin peace negotiations based on Trautmann's terms, a decision Chiang approved. But it was too late: Nanjing fell on December 13, and a provisional Beiping government led by Wang Kemin was established, signaling Japan's growing support for regional separatism. On December 24, Japan issued an ultimatum for a harsher deal to be accepted by January 10. In response, Chiang resigned as chairman of the Executive Yuan on January 1, 1938, and was succeeded by his brother-in-law Kong Xiangxi. Chiang declared that death in defeat was preferable to death in disgrace and refused to yield under coercion. The Konoe Cabinet announced on January 16 that Japan would not negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek. Trautmann's mediation had failed.   After Konoe's announcement, mediation became even more precarious, as it placed the already deadly, no-win situation between the two nations in deeper jeopardy. Secret contacts between the two governments persisted through multiple channels—sometimes at the direction of their own leaders, other times at the initiative of a cadre of officials and quasi-official figures of dubious legitimacy. Many of these covert efforts were steered by Chiang himself. In late 1937, Wang Jingwei even sent Chen Gongbo to Rome to explore the possibility of Italian mediation between China and Japan. After meetings with Mussolini and Foreign Minister Ciano, Chen concluded that Italy had no genuine goodwill toward China and favored Japan. His conversations with other Western leaders (Belgium, France, Britain, and the United States) proved equally fruitless. In diaries, Zhou Fohai and Chen Kewen recorded a pervasive mood of pessimism among Hankou and Chongqing's national government factions. Although direct champions of negotiating with Japan were few, many voices insisted that China was on the brink of collapse while secretly hoping peace talks would begin soon. Gao Zongwu's mission emerged from this tense atmosphere.   With Konoe's cabinet refusing to negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek, many regarded Wang as the best candidate to carry forward a diplomatic solution. Yet Wang remained convinced of his loyalty to Chiang and to Chiang's policy. The Italian ambassador visited Wuhan to offer mediation between Wang and the Japanese government, an invitation Wang declined. Tang Shaoyi's daughter traveled to Wuhan to convey Tokyo's negotiation intent, but was similarly turned away. Even Chen Bijun, then in Hong Kong, urged Wang to join her and start peace negotiations; he again declined. Tao Xisheng remembered a quiet night when Wang confided in him: "This time I will cooperate with Mr. Chiang until the very end, regardless of how the war unfolds." His stance did not change when Gao Zongwu reported that the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office wanted him to head the peace talks.   Gao Zongwu's bid was brokered by Dong Daoning, head of the Japan Affairs Section in the Foreign Ministry. Shortly after Konoe's statement, Dong traveled to Shanghai to meet Nishi Yoshiaki, representative of Mantetsu, and Matsumoto Shigeharu, a Dōmei News Agency journalist. Nishi and Matsumoto then introduced Dong to Kagesa Sadaaki, head of the Strategy and Tactics Department in the General Staff Office. Kagesa introduced Dong to Deputy Director Tada Hayao and colleagues Ishiwara Kanji and Imai Takeo, who agreed that a peaceful resolution to the China crisis aligned with Japan's interests. It would be inaccurate to paint these figures as pacifists: Ishiwara, who helped build Manchukuo, also recognized that further incursions into China could jeopardize Japan's hard-won gains. They proposed a temporary resignation by Chiang to spare Konoe from having to retract his refusal to negotiate, thereby allowing Wang to lead the talks. In short, the scheme aimed to save face for Konoe.   Dong returned to Hong Kong and delivered the proposal to Gao Zongwu, who had been stationed there since February under Chiang's orders to oversee intelligence and liaison with Japan. Luo Junqiang, Gao's contact, testified that Gao was paid monthly from Chiang's secret military fund. Gao went back to Hankou twice, on April 2 and May 30. On the second trip, he personally conveyed Japan's terms to Chiang. Gao later admitted that Chiang never gave him explicit instructions, but rather cultivated an impression of tacit approval. At no point did Gao view the deal as Chiang's betrayal. As long as Chiang retained control of the military, Wang's leadership could only be nominal and temporary. Unbeknownst to Wang, Gao's personal ties to Chiang remained hidden from him; he learned of them only through Zhou Fohai. Startled, he handed the information to Chiang Kai-shek and told Tao Xisheng: "I cannot broker peace with Japan alone. I will not deceive Mr. Chiang." Given Tao's later departure from Wang's circle to rejoin Chiang, Tao's recollection could be trusted.   Two months later, Wang left Chongqing to pursue a peace settlement. A key factor may have been persistent lobbying by Zhou, Gao, Mei, Tao, and especially his wife Chen Bijun. Luo Junqiang recalled that Kong Xiangxi objected that Gao acted without him, prompting Chiang to order Gao to halt his covert efforts, an order Gao ignored. Gao and Mei Siping continued to press for a deal. Gao even spent three weeks in Japan in July, holding extensive talks with Kagesa Sadaaki and Imai Takeo. Their discussions produced the first substantive articulation of the Wang peace movement as a Sino-Japanese plot to end the "China incident." On November 26, Mei flew from Hong Kong to Chongqing with a draft of Japan's terms and Konoe's planned announcement. The proposal stated that the Japanese army would withdraw completely within two years once peace was reached, but it demanded that China formally recognize Manchukuo. Wang was to leave Chongqing for Kunming by December 5, then proceed to Hanoi. Upon Japan receiving news of his arrival in Hanoi, the telegram would reveal the peace terms. This pivotal moment threw Wang into intense inner turmoil. Zhou Fohai visited Wang daily, and Wang delayed decisively each time, much to Zhou's frustration. Ultimately, it seemed that Chen Bijun rendered the final judgment on Wang's behalf. As in earlier episodes, Wang found himself trapped by an idealized image of himself held by family, followers, and loyalists, seen by them as a larger-than-life figure who must undertake a mission too grand to fail.   Yet Wang's stance was not purely involuntary. As Imai Takeo noted, he fundamentally disagreed with Chiang's strategy of resistance. The so-called scorched-earth approach caused immense suffering. Three episodes stood out: the 1938 Yellow River flood, ordered by Chiang to impede Japan's advance, which destroyed dikes and displaced millions, yielding devastating agricultural and humanitarian consequences; the subsequent epidemics and famine that followed, producing about two million refugees and up to nine hundred thousand deaths, while failing to stop the Japanese advance toward Wuhan (which fell in October); and the Changsha fire, ignited in the early hours of November 13, which killed nearly thirty thousand people and devastated most of the city. These events sharpened Wang's doubts about Chiang's defense strategy, especially its reckless execution and cruelty. By late November, Wang began to openly challenge Chiang's approach, delivering a series of speeches advocating his own war-weariness and preference for limiting resistance to preserve national strength for future counterstrikes. He argued that guerrilla warfare burdened the people and wasted national resources that could be saved for a later, more effective defense. He urged soldiers to exercise judgment and listen to their consciences, and he attributed much of the civilian suffering to the Communists; nonetheless, with General von Falkenhausen, Chiang's German adviser, now urging a shift toward smaller-unit mobile warfare, Wang's critique of Chiang's strategy took on a more pointed, risksome tone. If resistance equaled total sacrifice, Wang was not prepared to endorse it. As Margherita Zanasi noted, Wang Jingwei and Chen Gongbo had long shared a vision of a self-consciously anti-imperial "national economy", the belief that China's economy had not yet achieved genuine nation-power and that compromising with the foe might be necessary to save the national economy.   Wang and Zhou also worried that continuing resistance would strengthen the Communists and that genuine international aid would not arrive, at least not soon. After Nazi Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, Wang briefly hoped for the formation of an antifascist democratic alliance. Yet the Munich Agreement disappointed him. Viewing Western democracies as culturally imperialist, he doubted they would jeopardize their relations with Japan, another imperial power, on China's behalf. This view was reinforced by Zhou Fohai and other China specialists who had recently joined Wang's circle; they argued that China would fall unless the international situation shifted dramatically. Their forecast would prove accurate only after Pearl Harbor.   In the end, Wang longed for decisive action. He had been sidelined since the government's move to Wuhan. At the GMD Provisional National Congress in Hankou (March 29–April 1), the party resolved to restore Chiang Kai-shek to near-total control by reasserting the authoritarian zongcai system. The Congress also established the People's Political Council as a nominal nod to democracy, but it remained largely consultative. Wang was elected deputy director and chairman of the council, yet he clearly resented the position. Jiang Tingfu described Wang's Hankou mood as "somewhat resentful," recognizing the role as largely ceremonial. More optimistic observers attributed his dismay to the return of dictatorship, and he likely felt increasingly useless. Since the Mukden Incident, Wang had prioritized party unity and been content to play a secondary role to Chiang, but inaction did not fit his sense of historical purpose. It was Zhou Fohai who urged Wang to risk his reputation for a greater cause, presenting a calculated nudge to someone susceptible to idealism. A longing to find meaning through action may have finally pushed him toward a fateful decision. As Chen Bijun bluntly told Long Yun, her husband "was merely an empty shell in Chongqing and could contribute nothing to the country; thus he wanted to change his surroundings."   Wang considered staying abroad as a serious option amid the Hanoi uncertainty. Gao Zongwu had previously told Japanese negotiators that if Konoe's stance did not satisfy Wang, he might head to France. Chongqing echoed this possibility. On December 29, Ambassador Guo Taiqi, acting on Chiang's orders, telegraphed Wang suggesting he go to Europe "to take a break." It would have offered a graceful exit. Kagesa recommended Hanoi as Wang Jingwei's midway station because, as a French colony, it offered a relatively safe environment. Only the French were armed there, and several members of the extended Wang family had grown up in France, enabling them to communicate with the colonial authorities.   After Wang departed for Hanoi, Long Yun hesitated for weeks. On December 20, he telegraphed Chiang, saying Wang had paused in Kunming on the way to Hanoi to seek medical treatment. Knowing this was untrue, Chiang replied on December 27 with a stern warning about Japan's unreliability, a message that appeared to have persuaded Long. A day later, Long urged leniency for Wang. Following Wang's publication of the "yan telegram," public anger likely pushed Long toward a final decision. On January 6, he informed Chiang of a letter from Wang delivered by Chen Changzu, and he noted that the Wangs were considering the French option, but recommended allowing Wang to return to Chongqing to show leniency and to enable surveillance.   Chiang replied two days later that Wang would be better off going to Europe. The extended Wang family resided in two Western-style mansions at 25 and 27 Rue Riz Marché, surrounded by high walls. On February 15, Chongqing's envoy Gu Zhengding brought their passports to Hanoi. Accounts differed on what happened next. One version had Wang offering to travel abroad if Chongqing accepted his proposal to start peace talks; if Chongqing remained indecisive, he would return to voice his dissent. Another version claimed Gu's primary task was to bring Wang back to Chongqing, which Wang declined, preferring France.   Although the French option was gaining favor, the Wang circle continued to explore other avenues. In early 1939, secret contacts with the Japanese government persisted, though not always in a coordinated way. Chiang's intelligence advised that the Wang group was forming networks in Shanghai and especially Hong Kong, with Gao Zongwu playing a central role. On February 1, Gao returned from Hong Kong and stayed for five days, finding Wang in a despondent mood. Wang asked Gao to pass along a few letters to Japanese leaders urging the creation of a unified Chinese government to earn the Chinese people's understanding and trust. Wang believed his actions would serve the best interests of both China and Japan. On March 18, the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong informed Gao that funding for the Wang group would come from China's customs revenues that Japan had seized.   Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-shek sensed a shift in the war's direction. On February 10, Japan seized Hainan, China's southernmost major island. The next day, Chiang held a press conference describing the development as "the Mukden Incident of the Pacific." He warned that Japan's ambitions could threaten British and French colonial interests and U.S. maritime supremacy. Gao Zongwu read the speech and concluded that Chiang's outlook had brightened.   For three months, the Wang circle met frequently to weigh options. The prominent writer and scholar Zhou Zuoren, who had already accepted a collaborationist post as head of the Beiping library, warned Tao Xisheng, saying "Don't do it," signaling his misgivings about collaborating with Japan based on his reading of Japanese politics. As Zhou observed, many young Japanese militarists did not even respect General Ugaki, let alone a foreign leader.   Then the assassination of Zeng Zhongming, Wang's secretary and protégé, abruptly altered the meaning of Wang's mission. The Wang group was deeply unsettled by Zeng Zhongming's assassination. The event came as a shock. On March 20, Gu Zhengding's second Hanoi visit concluded. Allegedly Gu delivered passports and funds for a European excursion. On a bright spring day, the entire Wang family enjoyed a lighthearted outing to Three Peaches Beach, only to be halted by a French officer who warned they were being followed. During their afternoon rest, a man posing as a painter, sent by the landlord to measure rooms for payment, appeared at the door and was turned away when he insisted on entering every room. More than twenty people in the household, none were armed.   Since January, Hanoi had been a hive of BIS activity. The ringleader was Chen Gongshu, a veteran operative under spymaster Dai Li, though Chen's recollections clashed with those of other witnesses, leaving the exact sequence unclear. Chen claimed their role was intelligence and surveillance until March 19, when an unsigned telegram from Dai Li ordered, "Severest punishment to the traitor Wang Jingwei, immediately!" The mission supposedly shifted. The Wang family was followed the next day but evaded capture in traffic, prompting a raid on the house. Reports varied: some said Wang resided on the second floor of No. 27; others suggested he lived in No. 25, with No. 27 used for day guests. The force entered the courtyard, forced open the door to Wang's room, and a getaway car waited outside. Chen, in the car, heard gunshots: initial shots toward a downstairs figure, then three shots through a bedroom door hacked open with an axe, aimed at a figure beneath the bed, believed to be Wang Jingwei. The team drove off after four to five minutes. Vietnamese police soon detained three killers who lingered in the courtyard and even listened in on a hospital call. Chen didn't realize the target had been misidentified until the next afternoon. Some BIS records suggested Wang and Zeng Zhongming had swapped bedrooms that night, a detail Chen doubted. Chen did not mention a painter's earlier visit.   There were competing accounts of the event with their numerous inconsistencies that fueled conspiracy theories. Jin Xiongbai outlined three possibilities: (1) the killers killed the "wrong person" as a warning to Wang Jingwei; (2) they killed Zeng to provoke Wang toward collaboration; or (3) the episode was always part of a broader Chiang-Wang collaboration plan.   In any case, Dai Li showed unusual leniency toward Chen Gongshu, who was never punished and later led the Shanghai station. After Dai Li's agent Li Shiqun was captured in 1941, Li not only spared Chen's life but recruited him on a double-agent basis for the remainder of the war, with Chen retiring to Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek never discussed the case publicly or in his diary, and his silence was perhaps the strongest indication that he ordered the killing.   I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Wang Jingwei, once a key figure in China's resistance against Japan, grew disillusioned with Chiang Kai-shek's scorched-earth tactics during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Amid devastating events like the Yellow River flood and Changsha fire, which caused immense civilian suffering, Wang joined a peace faction advocating negotiation. Secret talks with Japanese officials led to his defection in 1938. He fled Chongqing to Hanoi, where an assassination attempt, likely ordered by Chiang, killed his secretary Zeng Zhongming instead.   

Ali Velshi continues MS NOW's special coverage of U.S. and Israelis military strikes against Iran; America's adversarial history with Iran goes back decades; and the spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry calls the U.S.-led attacks an “unwarranted act of aggression.” To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.